Eller breaks 2nd-period tie; Canadiens top Rangers

MONTREAL (AP) -- Lars Eller broke a tie midway through the second period, and Max Pacioretty added a goal the third to give the Montreal Canadiens a 3-1 victory over the New York Rangers on Saturday night.

Tomas Plekanec netted a short-handed goal in the first period, and Carey Price made 34 saves for Montreal (7-1) in his first meeting with New York since Chris Kreider knocked him out in the first game of last season's Eastern Conference finals.

Price improved to 6-1 this season.

Carl Hagelin scored the lone goal for the Rangers (4-4). Henrik Lundqvist stopped 27 shots, but New York's winning streak was snapped at three.

The Canadiens are 8-2 in their last 10 regular-season games against the Rangers, who eliminated Montreal to reach the Stanley Cup finals last season.

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